The Prize

by Vanessa Fewings

  “What can I tell you? I’m glad I had a parachute yesterday.”

  “That doesn’t excuse our actions.”

  “I’m no saint.” He headed out. “But you already know that.”

  I buried my face in my palms and questioned if I had what it took to endure this for much longer. My gaze fixed on Tobias’s phone and the iPad he’d left. Both of them were my windows to the world. All I had to do was be willing to risk alerting the authorities.

  Ignoring the temptation, I cleaned up our breakfast plates and carried a fresh mug of tea back to my room.

  I was grateful to find a parka among the new clothes that would hold off this East Coast chill and I carried it with me when I went in search of Tobias. I found him in his bedroom in the staff quarters.

  He greeted me brightly. “Find everything okay?”

  This was progress; he genuinely seemed to be trying to take his intimidation down a notch and from that curl at his lips he liked this new side to him.

  “I’ll pay you back for all this,” I offered, gesturing to my coat.

  “No need.” He winked. “I’ll take it out of your commission.”

  “I don’t think you could afford me now. My rate went up.” I winked back.

  “I’ll just have to sell all my worldly possessions so I can afford you.” His stare held mine. “It would be my best investment by far.”

  “Then how would you ever fund all your escapades?”

  “I’m inventive.”

  “So you’d never give them up?” I held his stare until he broke mine.

  “If anything’s an escapade it’s you, Leighton.” He nodded approvingly at a garment bag lying on the bed or maybe he just didn’t want to look at me. “Spies buy new clothes when they arrive at their destination. Did you know that?” He unzipped the bag and withdrew a jacket. “Brands give away their country of origin. They even buy shoes.”

  I pretended not to be fazed by Wilder’s James Bond fetish and watched him shrug into that Black Watch plaid jacket to which he added a Burberry scarf—I was being teased by this Abercrombie and Fitch take on a Scottish-styled hotness.

  “How do I look?” He peered down at himself. “I think Coops was high when he bought this.”

  “You look hip.” Actually he looked frickin’ gorgeous like one of those sultry runway models. “You’ll do.”

  He lowered his gaze on me. “You look like a hot librarian. Ready to burst out of—What is your style, exactly?”

  “Warm.” I zipped up my coat. “I’m going with you.”

  “I’m glad you’ve come around.”

  “Actually, I haven’t.”

  “Don’t slow me down.”

  “Oh, I intend to do more than that, Mr. Wilder.”

  “Looks like the entertainment for the day is set.” He smirked and turned away.

  When the allure of this dreamy-looking man slipped away and reality screeched back into focus, I was again reminded this illusion of us romantically hanging out together wasn’t real. Still, Tobias was letting me in and I sensed his sweet nature just beneath the surface. It brought more comfort than he’d ever know.

  We left the house after 11:00 a.m. in Tobias’s Aston Martin and although we arrived in Greenwich together, he left me sitting in the car for a few minutes as he went on ahead. This was how he wanted us to visit his old professor Theodore Partridge.

  The professor’s office was tucked away on the third floor of the Silver Center, one of the many academic buildings of New York University. The home of the department of Arts and Sciences sat snugly in the heart of Greenwich Village. On the way here, Tobias had told me about its reputation as a well-loved hub of student life with its endless lectures, small classes and thriving social scene.

  As I headed in to join him, I edged my way through exuberant students. It wasn’t that long ago I’d been a student myself and I envied their easy access to some of the best minds in the world. There was no doubt the latest findings would be celebrated here.

  Fully aware I’d have to brave the security surveillance from the street, I’d worn my blond wig again and added some round-rimmed sunglasses. It wasn’t only this covert activity that felt foreign to me; it was the surrounding accents and chilly climate.

  I knocked on the door of his old mentor’s office and hoped Tobias had felt comfortable enough to open up to Theo and find some solace from the time spent with his old professor.

  But, as I opened the door, I was stunned to see Theo lying on the floor with Tobias standing over him. I stared in horror at Wilder.

  “It’s his back,” Tobias reassured me.

  Theo raised his head. “Hello there,” came his American accent with a remnant of Irish. “Fell off a horse during a trip to Puerto Natales five years ago. Seeing my chiropractor this afternoon. Tea?”

  Tobias waved off his offer. “We’re fine.”

  I shut the door behind me. “Can we get you anything?”

  “Wilder already offered.” Theo rose to his feet cautiously and his expression strained as he made it to his desk. “Apparently Wilder wants your visit here kept private? Divinely evocative. You art collectors are a secretive bunch.” He peered over his spectacles at me and tucked his hands into his tweed jacket.

  His office was a reflection of his academia and a familiar sense of organization that I admired Tobias for.

  I sat in his corner armchair. “How do you know each other?”

  “We met in Massachusetts,” Theo explained. “Tobias was my student. He loved inventing gadgets back then, too.” Theo eyed him affectionately. “Read in the Times you’ve created an air keyboard? What’s wrong with this?” He pointed to his own. “Can’t you invent something that will save the world, Wilder?”

  Tobias smiled fondly. “Theo’s given us the access code for the Leonardo da Vinci exhibit. There’s one in this very building.” He pointed to a Post-it note on the desk with a series of numbers scribbled on it.

  Theo gave a nod. “Quite the collection of artifacts that once belonged to da Vinci. Wilder tells me you’re also a fan?”

  “His work was inspiring,” I said. “To say the least.”

  “I hear you’re an art forensic specialist, Zara?” he added.

  “Yes.”

  “Tobias and I share a common passion.” Theo lowered himself into his swivel chair. “Both of us have an admiration for da Vinci’s work.”

  Another layer of Wilder revealed and I recalled his interactive world I’d experienced while wearing his augmented reality headset back at LACMA. I toured da Vinci’s personal workspace, or at least the replica Tobias had created. It also explained his excitement when I’d shown him the Cannon Gun sketch I’d once kept hidden in a safe in my London home by the same artist; the drawing so respected it had survived the passing of time.

  “The exhibit upstairs has a collection of da Vinci’s paint brushes.” Tobias broke me from my daydreaming. “Isn’t that something?”

  “Yes, it really is.” My widening eyes told him I was on to him. “It’s such an honor to meet you, Theo. I was a student back at The Courtauld and loved my time there. I’ve considered teaching.” Especially as my job at Huntly Pierre was no longer viable probably. The thought of it made my stomach ache.

  The phone rang and Theo gestured he should take it. “Thanks, got it.” He hung up and looked at Tobias. “They’re advising us to save everything we’re working on. Cameras are down.”

  Wilder gave a convincing look of concern and I kept my gaze off him assuming he was the cause. He’d assured me there’d be no record of our visit today and this was why. It also explained why he’d gone on ahead. Somehow he’d disabled their surveillance capacity from a remote and all without entering their security hub. I was equally annoyed and impressed with the rascal.

  Tobias sat in the chair before the desk. “It’s good to see
you, Theo.”

  “Likewise,” he replied.

  “What can you tell us about this da Vinci exhibit?”

  “Private collector. Wants to remain anonymous. There’s no paintings I’m afraid, merely brushes, paints and whatnot.”

  “There’s a sacredness to her,” I piped up. “The Mona Lisa, I mean.”

  Theo brightened. “She was commissioned by Mona Lisa’s husband. Though the mystery why this very painting was found among da Vinci’s personal belongings after he died still baffles us today.”

  “A true mystery.” Tobias gave a nod. “Because it should have hung in their home and not remained with the artist.”

  “Very intriguing,” agreed Theo. “Which might explain there being the rumor of more than one. Leonardo was perfecting his painting and the process involved several canvases perhaps.”

  Tobias sighed with admiration. “The way he comprehended the light reflecting off the back of the moon is the exact same way he created the reflection of light emanating off Mona Lisa’s cheek.”

  “Wasn’t he dyslexic?” I said.

  Theo agreed with a nod. “Leonardo wrote backward with mirror writing. It was first suspected to be related to his obsession with secrecy but what we know today proves he was left-handed and from the ingeniousness of his drawings—”

  “He was using both his left and right brain simultaneously.” I waved my apology for interrupting.

  Theo looked impressed. “This lady knows her stuff.”

  “She certainly does,” Tobias said with pride.

  “So the exhibition here of a sample of Leonardo’s personal items have been authenticated?” I sat forward, intrigued with this opportunity.

  Theo raised his bushy eyebrows. “Yes, absolutely. A private collector generously loaned them to us for a month. I’m glad you’ll get to see it. Fifth floor. Mention my name if you have an issue. You shouldn’t.”

  I gave a nod. “I visited Mona Lisa in the Louvre a few years ago. She was beautiful.”

  “And even more has been revealed,” said Theo.

  I added with joy, “Art historians have discovered both tiny letters and numbers in the dark paint of Mona Lisa’s eyes. It’s a secret message da Vinci was sharing with us. Maybe his signature. Somehow I doubt there’s another painting of her out there,” I muttered.

  Theo smiled. “She’d be easy to authenticate. Carbon dating would help to rule out a fake.”

  “Thank you, yes, Professor.” I threw a triumphant smile at Tobias to say, There, someone has finally proven the madness of your idea.

  Tobias held my gaze. “Leonardo left his unique signature on Mona Lisa’s dress as a final strike of possession.”

  I narrowed my gaze on him in response to his subtle strike back.

  “Perhaps there was a romance revealed by her timeless smile,” Tobias added with a glint of humor.

  “Leonardo da Vinci hired musicians and comedians to entertain Mona Lisa during those long hours she posed for him.” I raised my chin in defense of her reputation. “After all, she was married. So her smile is most likely her amusement from the entertainment provided to prevent boredom.”

  “And I thought you were a romantic?” Tobias smirked.

  “Not when it comes to science, Mr. Wilder.” I shrugged a shoulder. “You would know all this, Professor.”

  Tobias was studying me and I threw him a defiant smile.

  “Of course, should another painting of her ever surface out of the blue, specialists will perform multispectral analysis on her.” I turned my focus back to Theo. “This is an easy way to confirm her authenticity.”

  Theo shook his head. “Thank goodness for science.”

  “My point exactly. And of course they’d carbon date the canvas.” I pushed myself to my feet in triumph. “Take paint samples and run her through infrared. How wonderful is this!” My nerves forced it out as a screech. “And the rest will be from Mona Lisa’s smile—”

  “The other Mona Lisa,” said Theo thoughtfully.

  “Can’t see it happening myself,” I added. “Not after all this time.”

  “I told you she’s art obsessed.” Tobias cut me off and turned back to Theo. “It’s been a wonderful visit. Thank you for this—” He tapped the Post-it note and left it where it lay. “I’ve memorized the numbers.”

  “How long are you in town?” asked Theo.

  “Few days.” Tobias glanced at me. “Perhaps longer.”

  Theo slowly pushed himself to his feet and grimaced.

  “Please don’t get up.” I gestured my concern for his back.

  He waved it off. “It’s wonderful to see you. Don’t leave it so long next time.”

  “I won’t.” Tobias leaned forward and hugged Theo.

  I stepped forward to shake his hand. There was a bounce in my step as we headed out, because our meeting would have helped Tobias see sense.

  Halfway down the hallway I waited for a couple of students to walk by. “We can still visit the exhibit.”

  Tobias hit the button for the elevator. “I am.”

  “And me too, right?”

  He nudged me into the lift. “Wait for me in the car.”

  I turned to face him. “I’m going with you.”

  “No, you’re not.” He tossed me the car keys.

  I caught them and stopped the sliding doors from closing. “Why can’t I come?”

  “We’ll talk afterward.”

  “After what?”

  “Let’s play the ‘shut your piehole’ game. You go first.” He peeled my hands off the doors and they slid closed in my face.

  My jaw dropped at his cheekiness. I tucked the keys into my coat pocket and rode the elevator down as my annoyance almost won out over my phobia.

  When the elevator landed on the ground floor, I hurried out before the doors opened fully and retraced my steps toward the foyer. Seriously, Tobias knew how much pleasure seeing that collection would give me. My feet jolted to a stop as my mind processed the thought he was going to steal something from the collection to help his re-creation.

  He was such a rogue.

  Hordes of students poured into the foyer having gotten caught in the downpour. With trepidation rising in my belly, I hurried toward the exit, ready to brave the rain, my angry monologue poised to be unleashed on Wilder.

  Just before the front door to my left a young student caught her heel in the carpet and took a tumble onto her knees and dropped her books. I went to help her, first checking she was okay and then helping her pick them up and handing them back.

  I reached for the one on Florence. “Have you been to Italy?” I looked up at her. “It’s amazing.” I’d visited the city with my dad and my fondest memories were of the time spent with him in the Uffizi Gallery.

  “Not yet.” She took her book back with a grateful smile. “Thank you.”

  I should have been allowed to see the Leonardo da Vinci collection and was seriously considering finding my way to the fifth floor.

  A blur of movement to my right caught my attention. It was the vision of five men entering briskly with their long formal coats flapping behind them and they easily looked out of place—among them I recognized Eli Burell striding fast toward the elevator.

  Tobias.

  I sprang to my feet and bolted toward the stairwell and shoved the door open, taking two stairs at a time as I rushed back up toward the fifth floor, guessing he was still up there. Round and round I ascended the stairs with my legs burning from the strain.

  I burst into the hallway—

  Tobias was standing before an elevator, waiting for the doors to open. He turned and gave me a wry smile.

  I pointed at the elevator and mouthed, Eli.

  Tobias bolted toward me and an envelope slipped from his grip and fell to the ground.

  The e
levator pinged.

  Tobias ran back for the envelope and scooped it up and sprung toward me, gesturing to the stairwell. I shoved open the door and he followed me. He slammed it shut behind us and we sped down the stairs to the ground floor. When we reached the bottom, we took a few seconds to listen out for anyone following us. He rested a finger to his lips in a warning for us to remain silent.

  A fading lightbulb flickered.

  “They didn’t see you?” I whispered.

  “No.”

  “How did Eli find us?”

  “He’s here for the da Vinci collection I imagine.”

  “Eli’s not following us?”

  “No. He must have heard about the collection. His father goes after anything by the artist. This is why the collection is private, so that bidders don’t bully the collector.”

  My head struck the brick and I breathed out a sigh of panic. “Did we really need to see it today?”

  “Yes, we’re against the clock.” He pressed his chest against mine protectively. “Still, that was fun, right?”

  “No, it bloody well wasn’t.” I smacked my palms to his chest. “You like living dangerously.”

  “What can I tell you? Danger finds me.” Tobias’s irises glinted under the fluorescent light.

  I dug in a fingertip below his collarbone. “You seek it out.”

  “Zara, keeping you safe is my priority—” His lips neared mine. “That’s why I wanted you in the car. You defied me.”

  “I saved you.” If his lips edged one more centimeter we’d be kissing and I glared my annoyance, trembling with arousal that had my breathlessness morphing into panting and my nipples hardening.

  He arched an amused brow. “I’d have been fine. You, however, put yourself in harm’s way.”

  “Neither of us should have gone up there.”

  “Do you have any idea how hot you are when your adrenaline spikes?”

  I broke his gaze as I realized this buzz surging through me felt like my body was ignited from the jeopardy.

  Tobias looked intoxicated from our escape. “We have something in common, after all.”

  No, this wasn’t happening; I refused to become drawn into his drama-filled life.